Who Is Andrew Truett Cathy? Chick-fil-A’s CEO Explained (2026)

Andrew Truett Cathy is the CEO of Chick-fil-A, one of the biggest fast-food chains in the United States. He took over the job on November 1, 2021, becoming only the third person to ever lead the company. If you have ever wondered who runs the chicken chain famous for its sandwiches, waffle fries, and being closed on Sundays, the short answer is him. You can read more about the company on Chick-fil-A’s official website.

Quick Answer: Who Is Andrew Truett Cathy?

Andrew Truett Cathy is the third-generation leader of Chick-fil-A. He is the grandson of the company’s founder, S. Truett Cathy, and the son of the previous CEO, Dan Cathy. He started working at Chick-fil-A in 2005, running an actual restaurant as an operator, and worked his way up through the company over 16 years before becoming CEO. Under his leadership, Chick-fil-A has stayed family-owned, refused to go public, and grown into the third-largest restaurant chain in the U.S. by sales.

Family Background: A Third-Generation Leader

Andrew Cathy was born into the family that built Chick-fil-A. His grandfather, S. Truett Cathy, opened a small diner called the Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, Georgia, back in 1946. Truett later created the original Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich and opened the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in 1967.

When Truett stepped down, his son Dan T. Cathy took over as CEO in 2013. Dan ran the company until 2021, a period during which annual revenue grew from roughly $1 billion to $16 billion. Andrew is Dan’s son, which makes him the founder’s grandson and the third member of the Cathy family to run the company.

The company has stayed in family hands the whole time. Chick-fil-A is privately held, and other family members still hold key roles. Dan Cathy remains Chairman of the Board, his brother Donald M. Cathy serves as Executive Vice President, and their sister Trudy Cathy White works as the brand’s ambassador.

His Career Path Before Becoming CEO

One thing that stands out about Andrew Cathy is that he did not get the top job on his last name alone. He spent 16 years learning the business from the ground up. Here is how his career at Chick-fil-A played out:

Starting as a restaurant operator matters. He spent two years actually running a store — hiring people, serving food, and dealing with customers. That hands-on start is something the company likes to point out, and it shaped how he thinks about the business.

How He Became CEO

Chick-fil-A announced the change on September 16, 2021. At the time, Andrew was 43 years old. He succeeded his father, Dan, who was 68 and had served as CEO since 2013.

According to the company’s announcement, the move was part of a long-term succession plan, not a reaction to any problem. Dan Cathy said the decision was coming from “a position of strength” and that he was in excellent health. After the handover, Dan stayed on as Chairman of the Board, so he is still involved in the company’s direction.

Andrew himself said he had been lucky to learn from the company’s operators and leaders, including his dad and grandfather. He talked about keeping Chick-fil-A as a “purpose-driven company” that has a positive influence on the communities it serves.

What He Has Done as CEO

Andrew Cathy has now been in the CEO seat for almost five years. Here are the big themes of his time in charge.

1. Keeping the Company Private

One of the biggest stories about his leadership is what he has not done: he has not taken the company public. Chick-fil-A remains fully private and family-owned, and Andrew has said more than once that there are no plans for an IPO or outside investment.

In a 2026 interview, he put it this way: “We’re able to plan for the quarter century, and we don’t have to plan for the quarter.” In plain English, he means the company can think long-term because it does not have to impress Wall Street every three months.

2. Steady Growth, Not Rapid Expansion

The numbers under his watch are strong. Based on the company’s franchise disclosures for 2025, Chick-fil-A brought in $10.3 billion in revenue, up 14% from the year before, with net income of $1.05 billion. The roughly 3,000 locations produced $23.92 billion in total system sales. That puts Chick-fil-A behind only McDonald’s and Starbucks among U.S. restaurant chains.

The company opened 179 new restaurants in that period. Andrew has called the growth strategy “calculated” and “conservative” — the idea is to grow carefully rather than rushing to open as many stores as possible.

3. Going International

For most of its history, Chick-fil-A was an American-only chain. Under Andrew Cathy, the company has pushed into new countries, including Canada, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The company is backing this push with a $1 billion international expansion plan.

4. Sticking With Company Values

Some of Chick-fil-A’s most famous traits have not changed under Andrew. The restaurants are still closed on Sundays, a policy that goes back to the founder’s desire to give employees a day of rest. The company’s stated purpose still puts faith and hospitality at the center.

Andrew gave his first broadcast interview in October 2026, sitting down with NBC News co-anchor Craig Melvin. When asked about the company’s past controversies — including his father Dan’s 2012 comments opposing same-sex marriage, which sparked boycotts and protests — Andrew steered the conversation back to the present. “We’re focused on hospitality, serving great-tasting food, and great service,” he said.

5. Giving Back Through Food

The company’s Shared Tables program, which donates surplus restaurant food to organizations feeding people in need, has provided enough food for more than 200 million meals since 2020, according to Andrew Cathy. The company has also shifted its charitable giving priorities toward education, homelessness, and hunger.

What Is His Leadership Style?

People who watch the company say Andrew is quieter and less public than his father. Dan Cathy was known for being outspoken and very visible. Andrew, by contrast, stayed out of the spotlight for the first years of his CEO tenure — his 2026 interview with NBC News was his first broadcast interview.

His public message has been simple: focus on the basics. Good food, good service, and taking care of the restaurant operators who actually run the stores. He has said Chick-fil-A avoided the slowdown that hit some of its competitors because its operators kept doing the fundamentals well, and he has rejected cutting portion sizes or pushing prices up too fast.

Andrew Truett Cathy: Key Facts at a Glance

• Full name: Andrew Truett Cathy
• Role: Chief Executive Officer of Chick-fil-A, Inc.
• Became CEO: November 1, 2021
• Preceded by: His father, Dan T. Cathy (now Chairman of the Board)
• Family: Grandson of founder S. Truett Cathy
• CEO number: Only the third person to lead Chick-fil-A
• Started at Chick-fil-A: 2005, as a restaurant operator in St. Petersburg, Florida
• Company size (2025): Roughly 3,000 locations, $23.92 billion in system sales
• Ownership: Privately held and family-owned; no plans for an IPO

FAQ

Who is the current CEO of Chick-fil-A?

Andrew Truett Cathy has been the CEO of Chick-fil-A since November 1, 2021. He is the grandson of the company’s founder and the son of the previous CEO, Dan Cathy.

When did Andrew Cathy become CEO?

He officially took the role on November 1, 2021. Chick-fil-A announced the transition on September 16, 2021.

Who was CEO before Andrew Cathy?

His father, Dan T. Cathy, served as CEO from 2013 to 2021. Dan is now the Chairman of the Board. Before Dan, the founder S. Truett Cathy ran the company.

Is Chick-fil-A still family-owned?

Yes. Chick-fil-A is privately held and owned by the Cathy family. The company has said it has no plans to go public or take outside investment.

How old was Andrew Cathy when he became CEO?

He was 43 years old when the transition was announced in September 2021.

Where did Andrew Cathy start his career at Chick-fil-A?

He started in 2005 as the operator of a Chick-fil-A restaurant on Tyrone Boulevard in St. Petersburg, Florida. He then moved to the company’s Support Center, working in franchisee selection before rising to Chief People Officer in 2016 and Executive Vice President of Operations in 2019.

Conclusion

Andrew Truett Cathy is the third-generation CEO keeping Chick-fil-A in family hands. He spent 16 years working his way up from running a single restaurant to leading the entire company, and since 2021 he has steered it through steady growth, international expansion, and a firm commitment to staying private. While his father was the public face of the company for years, Andrew has taken a quieter path — focusing on food, service, and the operators who run the stores. Whether you eat there every week or are just curious about who is behind one of America’s biggest fast-food brands, the answer is simple: a grandson who learned the business from the ground up and plans to keep it in the family.